End Legacy Admissions

Act Now

Many New York students do not have a fair chance to pursue a higher education because the rules are tilted against them. Legacy admissions put thousands of students – especially Black and Latine New Yorkers – at a disadvantage.

Legacy preferences provide an automatic advantage in college admissions decisions to applicants whose family members attended the same college. This advantage is completely unearned and bears no relation to how likely a student is to succeed in college. Most legacies at elite colleges already come from the richest families in America – which means that legacy admissions is a baked-in advantage for the nation’s wealthiest and most well-connected families.

TAKE ACTION: Tell lawmakers to end legacy admissions in New York.

Message Recipients:
Governor Kathy Hochul
Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
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I’m writing to urge you to throw your support behind A.2125/S.2237, the Fair College Admissions Act. This bill would prohibit legacy admissions practices at all colleges and universities in New York. It also includes a civil penalty for schools that continue these harmful practices. Under the law, higher education institutions would still be able to ask applicants about their relation to an alumnus as a means of data collection and reporting but would only be able to do so after an offer of admission and financial aid has been accepted.

The Fair College Admissions Act will create a fairer higher education environment, more diverse college classes, and more opportunities for students to get into colleges based on their merit, not their money.

I'm counting on you to fight for fairness by banning legacy preferences at private and public institutions.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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End Legacy Admissions

Act Now

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